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| FAMILY: this is what matters most to me. |
We need to push aside our collective anger to come together in this most dangerous of times. Our city, in fact our world, is in danger of fully-collapsing due to the pandemic we all face. I for one have left behind my prejudices in order to find some collective path along our journey to simply... survive.
Hey, my own son might have this bastard virus, and I live in self-quarantine in the same 800-square-foot domicile as he, along with my Beloved. We all have dire circumstances due to this pandemic... mine is only one of billions. Even though we have been constantly at odds with our respective transit agencies, now is not the time to argue with their efforts. From what I've seen, those in management of transit agencies across the globe have been struggling with how to keep everyone safe.
For everyone's benefit, I plead with you to acknowledge our collective plight to find a forward path which safeguards those who both provide and access transit. This is a dilemma modern times has never seen. Its collective implications are unprecedented. It's time we all sit back and find a way forward... together. Contract negotiations notwithstanding, today confronts us with not only our own safety,, but also that of the fellow humans we serve.
I urged our GM to keep "the nuclear option" of temporarily-suspending all transit operations a possibility. He responded cautiously, but did not negate it. We don't know how this will end. All we care about is those we hold closest: family. Surely, those who run transit in any locale understand and ultimately-accept this reality as it applies to everyone.
This is not the time to be at each others' throats. If we can somehow find an acceptable path through the perilous journey, maybe tomorrow's relations will improve between management and union membership.
Hell, I don't know anything for sure, but I do have abundant hope. We're all human beings, and perhaps this crisis carries the promise of a future collectivism.
For now, do what is best for YOU and your loved ones. Transit can wait. Hey, if we all die because we're committed to a job that holds no promises, then why bother with "duty"? Take care of yourselves and your loved ones first. Whatever follows is gravy, brothers and sisters, for those who survive. Meanwhile, make sure you're there when it's all said and done.
Love you all,
Deke N. Blue
Our Director has issued no directives, offered no safe-keeping ideas other that operators sanitizing their own work space with their own supplies. Our buses are being sanitized every 2 days. Other than that, on Friday the 311 call centre tweeted for riders to expect some service missing due to higher than usual sick calls from operators. That's a stab in the back.
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